(Solar) Energy Storage for Later Use

With a home battery, you become less dependent on the power grid. You store (solar) energy and use it when you need it. On average, you directly consume 30% of the solar power generated by your solar panels if the panels cover the entire annual power consumption. The remaining 70% is fed back into the grid. This is because solar panels mainly generate power during the day, while your power consumption peaks in the morning and evening. With a home battery, you can store some of this excess power and use it later, allowing you to utilize more of your own solar energy.

Advantages of a Home Battery:

• Currently, the payback period is still somewhat long due to the net metering scheme, but you already save on feed-in costs as you return less power to the grid.
• From 2027, the net metering scheme will be phased out, at least that is the new government's plan. You will then receive a lower compensation for the power you feed back into the grid. In that scenario, a home battery becomes indispensable to optimally use your own (solar) energy and save costs.
• With a home battery, you are less dependent on the power grid. This is useful during power outages if the applied inverter has a backup connection.
• If you combine a home battery with a dynamic energy tariff, you will achieve even more benefits. With a dynamic energy tariff, you pay variable rates for power per hour. When the power price is low, you can charge your battery. When the power price is high, you use your own stored power.

There Are Two Types of Home Batteries: DC-Coupled Systems and AC-Coupled Systems

DC-Coupled Systems:

• The power from the solar panels is stored directly in the battery.
• This system is more efficient because less energy is lost in the conversion from DC to AC.
• DC-coupled systems are usually cheaper than AC-coupled systems.
• You do need a hybrid inverter for a DC-coupled system.

AC-Coupled Systems:

• The power from the solar panels is first converted to AC power before being stored in the battery.
• This system is less efficient because energy is lost in the conversion from DC to AC and vice versa.
• AC-coupled systems are more flexible because they can be connected to an existing home installation even if you don't have solar panels but still want to take advantage of a dynamic energy tariff.

Which Type of Home Battery Is Suitable for You?

The type of home battery that is suitable for you depends on several factors:

• The more solar panels you have, the more excess power you have to store.
• The more power you consume, the larger the battery needs to be to provide you with enough power.
• Home batteries are an investment. The costs of a home battery range from several thousand euros to tens of thousands of euros.
• Do you want the most efficient system possible? Or is flexibility more important to you?

Home Battery: A Smart Investment Even Now

The payback period of a home battery is still somewhat longer now, but the savings on feed-in costs are already real. With the phasing out of the net metering scheme and the benefits of dynamic energy tariffs in mind, a home battery is already a valuable investment in the future of your energy bill.

More Information

Do you want to know more about home batteries and which type of system is suitable for you? We are happy to advise you on the possibilities and help you choose the right home battery for your situation. We supply multiple DC- and AC-coupled inverter and battery brands. See our brands page for an overview.